2026 Spring Athletics Banquet and Season Recap
“This has been one of the coldest and wettest springs that I have ever been a part of at Winsor,” Athletics Director Sherren Granese reflected in her introduction to this year’s Spring Athletics Banquet on Tuesday, May 26, honoring Winsor’s crew, lacrosse, sailing, softball, tennis, and track teams. After thanking the school’s facilities staff, her fellow coaches and colleagues in the Athletics Department and across campus, and especially Winsor parents, Coach Granese recounted stories of winter parkas in May, rain cancellations, and pivots to indoor matches.
But she placed these setbacks in the context of a season full of inspiring accomplishments and lasting memories made on the field and off: an undefeated JV tennis season (albeit 3 matches short of the scheduled 12, due to weather); one of the “strongest seasons ever” for the sailing team; and a number of other personal and team milestones.
“The varsity lacrosse team had two seniors score their 200th goals in the team’s victory over Beaver Country Day School—a first for two Winsor athletes at the same time,” she said. “The crew team raced…in the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships and many of the boats posted their fastest times of the season. The team will also send their straight varsity four boat to the US Junior Nationals in a couple of weeks. This past spring we saw a few Winsor track records broken along with many personal records set by several of our runners, throwers and jumpers.”
Coach Granese gave special recognition to the senior athletes in the room: “It has been my pleasure to not only watch all of you compete this spring season, but to have watched many of you grow and compete for the past four or sometimes six or seven years. I believe that much of this year’s success, as well as the past several year’s success was due to this amazing senior class. These 21 seniors were motivated and committed leaders,” she said. “They led by example, they worked hard, and they got everyone to believe that being a team, working together, and having fun would produce the best results.”
Yet Coach Granese stressed that the accomplishments on the field and in the water were only part of the experience. She told the students, “I hope that you’ll remember the laughs and fun that you had and the lifelong friends that you made while being a part of a team. Thank you seniors for always putting the team first and leaving a legacy that will remain forever. I’m going to miss watching you play, but look forward to hearing about the wonderful things that lie ahead for all of you.”
The evening continued with remarks from the coaches. Read what they had to say about each of the teams this season:
Crew
The spring rowing season at The Winsor School was defined by growth, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence. Throughout the season, athletes worked hard to refine the technical aspects of the rowing stroke, build trust within their crews, and develop the discipline and resilience that comes with rowing. From long practices in the wind to race days on the river, the team embraced every challenge with energy, determination, and enthusiasm.
This year, Winsor competed against strong programs including Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Greenwich Academy, and Noble and Greenough School, and the athletes demonstrated tremendous progress over the course of the season. Additionally, the novice crews showed their strength against Brookline High School and Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. Beyond the results, the team cultivated a positive and supportive culture where athletes learned the value of working together, pushing one another to improve, and having fun!
The season culminated in an exciting performance at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships (NEIRAs), where all four Winsor boats qualified to compete. The team delivered a strong showing at this championship regatta, with two boats advancing to the Grand Finals and the 1st Varsity Four advancing to the Petite Final. The success at the NEIRAs was a testament to the athletes’ dedication, perseverance, and commitment to one another throughout the spring season.
Additionally, congratulations to the Varsity Straight Four of Allegra ’28 and Olympia Catalino ’28, Ginny Choe ’27, and Ella Troalic ’27 for qualifying for the US Youth National Championships which will be held in Sarasota, Florida, in June. Congratulations and best of luck at the championships.
Varsity Lacrosse
This was a season defined by heart, growth, and an unshakeable belief in one
another—and it showed from the very first whistle to the last. We opened our season against three of the toughest opponents in New England—BB&N, Holderness, and Middlesex—and set the tone immediately for the kind of team we were going to be. No easing in, no looking for favorable matchups, just Winsor lacrosse from day one.
At the center of everything were our three seniors: Kate Perkins ’26, Lexi Pascucci ’26, and Lucy Condron ’26. These young women have been starters on this varsity squad since eighth grade, and everything they built over those years—the leadership, the poise, the deep love for this program—poured into this season in the most powerful way. They didn’t just lead by example; they set the standard for what it means to play for Winsor and approach every single game like it could be your last.
Our draw specialist and our defensive unit were nothing short of a powerhouse all season long. Week after week, they competed with an intensity and discipline that made us proud. Every player on this roster showed tremendous growth this season. Upperclassmen and underclassmen alike came into this program open-minded, eager, and willing to do whatever it took for the team to succeed. That spirit was contagious. Younger players took on bigger roles and rose to the moment—and by the end of the season, that growth was impossible to miss.
We headed into our final EIL regular season game tied for first place, taking on our rival Dana Hall. It was a hard-fought, fast, and physical contest—exactly the kind of game this team earned the right to play. We came up just short, but there is nothing short about finishing second in the league with a 6–1 EIL record and 9–7 overall. This team competed, adapted, and gave everything they had. This was an extraordinary group! Every single person contributed to what we built this season—and what we’re building for seasons to come.
Sailing
The sailing team had an outstanding season while pushing themselves to new realms of competition, not only at the Community Boating races, but at races all over the region.
This year the team competed in the first ever Broken Tiller Independent School Invitational, hosted by Milton Academy, at Marina Bay in Quincy. The team walked away with a second-place very unique oar trophy, and Alexis ’27 and Morgan Sanborn ’27 won first place overall.
The team competed in the NESSA Girls Championship for the Herreshoff Trophy at MIT. This is a two-day event, where the first day results determine the fleet that you will compete in on the final day. In a very competitive field, with teams from all over New England, the team qualified for the Gold Division, the top division, and did extremely well.
Last week, the team competed in the Massachusetts Bay League Championships, held at Community Boating, where the team took second place overall in their division. Two days later, the team competed in the 51st Massachusetts State High School Championship held at MIT. The competition comprised 18 teams from all over New England. Winsor had a very good showing, with the team finishing 10th overall, only three points out of 7th place.
The team was led by captains Paige Fenton ’26 and Alisa Ross ’26, and could not have achieved these amazing results without the extraordinary efforts of Morgan and Alexis Sanborn, Caroline Wellington ’28, and Sophia Kennedy ’29. Thank you everyone for an amazing season!
Softball
The Winsor varsity softball season was full of many laughs and special moments. We had four new varsity players who seamlessly joined our team to create the tightly bonded group we have here today.
Our three captains, Mackenzie Cogavin ’27, Sana Khan ’27, and Ella Paterniti ’26 kept the team anchored with their strong skills and experience as leaders. The middle schoolers on the team brought energy and drive that helped us succeed in many critical moments. Our core outfielders worked hard every game and practice to defend the expanse that is left field. And our duo behind the plate reminded us that you can be fiercely competitive while also keeping things fun.
We faced some intense competition this year during our games against Dexter Southfield, Austin Prep, and Newton Country Day. Our bats came alive during our games against Thayer, Portsmouth Abbey, and Lexington Christian Academy for a combined total of 39 runs scored for the Wildcats. Our last game of the season was a three-hour nailbiter against Dana Hall. It seems like we always end our season on a long and competitive game!
Our team this year had a great mix of young talented players and experienced upper schoolers. With the average age of our team being only 15 years old, we did not shy away from fast pitching and strong bats. Instead, we focused on our game and produced some compelling performances.
Every player on the Winsor varsity softball team got better this season, whether that was at the plate, in the field, or stepping into a leadership role in games or at practice. As coaches, all we can ask for is hustle and a good attitude. We can confidently say that every athlete on our team exemplified those qualities all season long. We are so proud of their efforts on and off the field. The future of Winsor softball is looking bright.
Junior Varsity Tennis
The JV tennis squad was incredibly strong and deep this year with eight returning players and five class V athletes, who all stepped in and played some outstanding tennis. The competitive spirit was high, which made for some enthusiastic practices and some good-spirited sparring for singles and doubles rankings. The spring weather didn’t always cooperate, but the team took it in stride with backup plans at Ben and Jerry’s, Froyo World, and the Cheesecake factory!
The JV tennis parents also made a strong showing this year with excellent turnouts at all of the matches, even at our match in Berwick, Maine. Thank you to our parents for your tremendous support on and off the court! The team did not disappoint their fans, as they finished the season undefeated with a record of nine wins and zero loses. The individual game tally was an impressive record of 61 wins to only 6 loses! Congratulations to the JV tennis team for a fantastic, undefeated 2026 season.
Varsity Tennis
This year, Winsor varsity tennis faced a building season. After losing two of our strongest veterans and welcoming three new players to the team, we ventured into unfamiliar territory as a group.
I am proud to say that rather than faltering in the face of change, the team rallied together, formed strong bonds, and continued the legacy of hard-earned success that has become associated with Winsor varsity tennis over the past decade. Competitive spirit and determination remained central to our team culture, and every player improved tremendously as they challenged themselves to grow and expand their game throughout the season.
In difficult moments, they consistently rose to the occasion and competed with a tenacity that earned the team an impressive 8–2 EIL record. The team also secured victories in several ISL matches, where our players displayed tremendous grit and perseverance.
What makes me most proud, however, is not simply the record, but the character this team showed every day—their commitment to one another, their willingness to work hard, and the energy they brought to every practice and match.
I look forward eagerly to the coming seasons, which promise continued growth and achievement. Congratulations to varsity tennis on a hard-fought and memorable 2026 season!
Track and Field
A team of 44 athletes came together this spring to compete in track and field and finished as the EIL runner up with an overall record of 25 wins and 6 losses. Weather continued to challenge us, but the team had a great attitude—rain, shine, or snow.
Season highlights were the early season wins over Groton and Buckingham Browne & Nichols and our 4×400 relay team finishing second at the NEPSAC Championships—our best ever 4×400 finish at New Englands.
Along the way we had many event wins and personal bests with over 30 different athletes scoring at least one point this season. Two EIL champions: Yemisi Adetowubo ’26 and Dani Peskin ’30 successfully defended their EIL titles in the triple jump and the 3000 meter respectively, with Dani setting an EIL meet record in the 3K. Yemisi also broke her own school record this year in shot put. We had a number of other key scorers and event winners in many of our meets. A record number of athletes competed in the high jump and hurdles thanks to new coach Taylor Crompton. Coach Chevahn Brown ’11 returned to Winsor and did an outstanding job coaching our sprinters and jumpers.
While we lose eight incredible seniors, we have a very strong young team with a bright future ahead. Congratulations varsity track on an outstanding season!
Honors
This past spring, several Winsor student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding performances with honors, and Coach Trina Hable, Associate Director of Athletics, was voted EIL Lacrosse Coach of the Year for the sixth year in a row. Below is a list of this spring’s awards.
Varsity Lacrosse
Ani Andersen ’29, EIL Honorable Mention, NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Sophia Bub ’27, EIL Honorable Mention
Lucie Condron ’26, EIL All League, NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Lexi Pascucci ’26, EIL All League
Kate Perkins ’26, EIL All League, NEPSAC All League
Emily Yakoobian ’28, EIL All League, NEPSAC All League
Trina Hable, EIL Lacrosse Coach of the Year
Varsity Softball
Dorothy Cooper ’29, EIL Honorable Mention
Mackenzie Cogavin ’27, EIL All League, NEPSAC All League
Varsity Tennis
Alessa Andrews ’26, EIL Honorable Mention
Maya Cukras ’27, EIL All League, NEPSAC All League
Ila Desai ’27, EIL All League
Jiwon Lee ’27, EIL All League, EIL Player of the Year
Hannah Minn ’26, EIL Honorable Mention
Varsity Track
Yemisi Adetowubo ’26, EIL All League Triple Jump, All NEPSAC Triple Jump and Shot Put
Tenney Bluman ’26, EIL Honorable Mention, All NEPSAC 4×400 Relay, All NEPSAC 800
Annie Frigerio ’26, All NEPSAC 4×400 Relay
Tessa Laurans ’28, All NEPSAC 4×400 Relay
Emeline Lo-Piliero ’29, All NEPSAC 300 Meter Hurdles
Dani Peskin ’30, EIL All League 3000, All NEPSAC 3000
Eva Thakarar ’29, All NEPSAC 4×400 Relay
Eden Tierney ’31, All NEPSAC Honorable Mention 800
Gracie Zhou ’26, EIL Honorable Mention, All NEPSAC 3000
